Oil and Gas Industry finds a safe harbor in Morgan City, Louisiana
  by: OilOnline
  Tuesday, November 01, 2005

Amidst the devastation wrought on the oil and gas industry by Hurricanes Rita and Katrina, Morgan City has provided a safe harbor to business and government leaders as they begin to pick up the pieces.

At one point, just after Rita came ashore, 100% of the Gulf's offshore daily oil production -- all 1.5 million barrels of it -- was shut down. Even three weeks later, the Energy Information Administration says over 65% of the region's oil and 56% of its natural gas production remains shuttered -- driving gas at the pump to $3.00 or more.

The damage done to forward transport facilities has hamstrung the nation's energy pipeline still further and highlighted just how vulnerable those facilities are to major storms.

It has also underscored Morgan City's role as a safe harbor during hurricanes. Many companies with operations in outlying areas took refuge in the city's port, which lies along the Atchafalaya River.

The area has a well-earned reputation as a place protected from storm surge by miles of vibrant marshes and wetlands. The last five major storms to impact South Louisiana have left the area almost completely unscathed.

Now, with the entire country clamoring for Louisiana oil and gas, Morgan City gives the industry an excellent forward installation with superb infrastructure from which to conduct the difficult, but necessary rebuilding process.

Among the companies staging repair operations from Morgan City are The Shaw Group, Oceaneering, and Cal Dive International.

To streamline the set-up process for incoming businesses, the Mayor's Office of Morgan City -- in a cooperative effort with the Chamber of Commerce, the St. Mary's Parish government and the five municipal governments -- has put together a "Fast Track Business Support" program.

"We wanted to make it as easy as possible for businesses looking to move here to get established," says Morgan City Mayor Tim Matte. "To that end, we've turned City Hall into a 'one stop shop' for licenses, permits and utilities."

Mayor Matte is also encouraging local residents with available commercial and residential properties to list them with the St. Mary's Parish Economic Development Office.

"This state and this country depend on the oil and gas from this region," says Matte. "We want to make sure that this area is doing its part to get things ramped back up quickly."